You can believe outspoken mavericks who think they know better than others, or the hard facts:
https://www.medrxiv.org/conten…101/2020.05.14.20101774v3
Abstract Background Hydroxychloroquine is being administered among patients with COVID 19 infection in many healthcare systems across the world, considering its in vitro effect against the SARS CoV 2 virus. In spite of several observational studies and a few randomized controlled trials, the effect of hydroxychloroquine on patients with COVID 19 infection remains unclear. We undertook this systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine among patients with COVID 19 infection.
Conclusions Our meta analysis does not suggest improvement in mortality, clinical progression, or negative conversion by RT PCR among patients with COVID-19 infection who are treated with hydroxychloroquine. There was a significantly higher incidence of adverse events with hydroxychloroquine use.
I listen here for evidence contradicting this type of meta-study - taking all the published studies that have controls and looking at all they say.
- I note that few studies have very early administering of HCQ. That might (possibly) work better. But that is not the point - many anti-virals would work better if given earlier but people go to hospital after they have symptoms. So early usage is not normally possible, and therefore less interesting.
- I note that HCQ might (possibly) work as a prophylatic. The evidence is weak - but worth following up. Don't see this as a miracle, just like vaccines, prophylatics need to be very very safe because they are given mostly to people who do not need them.
- Please do not take might (possibly) work better as "it works better". It might work worse, since it stays in the system and influences immune response in ways that interact with the cytokine storm in ways not clearly understood.
- The youtube PR is not reliable - and if you think it is you are misunderstanding science.
- I'd hope that people here could adopt a reflective and measured view of all these political controversies.
There are many other exciting advances in COVID understanding and treatment - why stick on HCQ?